Man puts plant on lockdown with threatsPolice said a man sent a woman photos of himself with a gun after threatening to shoot her in the head and threatened to kill himself, which put a local plant on lockdown on Nov. 7. Matthew Hammonds, 28, appeared in felony bond hearings on Monday facing charges of aggravated assault, where his bond was set at $10,000. According to a police report, Hammonds told an ex-girlfriend he was going to kill her because she would not talk to him. Hammon...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Nearly $40k of pot seized in traffic stopArkansas State Police recovered $37,589 in cash and various individually wrapped marijuana products during an Interstate 40 traffic stop on Monday. Justin M. Pulliam, 25, and Angela Chanthavixay, 26, were arrested on contemplative charges of possession with purpose to deliver, a Class D felony, after a state trooper stopped them for swerving onto the shoulder near the 92 eastbound mile marker on I-40. After making contact with Pulliam and Chan...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Police find California gunman's wife dead in their homeRANCHO TEHAMA RESERVE, Calif. — The wife of a gunman who went on a shooting rampage in a Northern California town was found dead inside their home, authorities announced Wednesday, raising the death toll from the attack to five. Investigators discovered the body of Kevin Janson Neal's wife hidden under the floor. They believe her slaying was the start of the rampage, said Tehama County Assistant Sheriff Phil Johnston. Neal shot and killed four...

Atkins High employee had relationship with 17-year-old studentKatherine A. Flory, 34, has been charged with first degree sexual assault after a 17-year-old student at Atkins High School reported he had been in a sexual relationship with Flory, an employee at the school. According to a police report, Flory admitted to the relationship during a police interview. Flory was arrested on Monday and released on a $2,400 bond without appearing in felony bond hearings. A judge can order a bond without a hearing, ...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Police say man stabbed woman with set of keysBryan K. Smart was arrested on Monday in the area of 600 Whorton Mountain Road in London after police say he stabbed a woman with keys, threw her in the bed of a truck and told her he was going to take her into the woods to kill her. According to the police report, Smart fled in a silver colored Ford Ranger and was located on a dirt trail near the 500 block of Meimerstorf Lane. Smart and the victim were allegedly located by police inside the s...

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Courier staff reportsThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Bond hearingsThe following individuals appeared in felony bond hearings on Wednesday inside the Pope County Detention Center. Their names, ages, anticipated charges and bond amounts are listed. If charged, they will appear in Pope County Circuit Court at a later date. n William R. Martindale, 42, possession of firearms by a certain person -- $5,000. n Christopher D. Everhart, 38, kidnapping -- $250,000. Compiled by Travis Simpson

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Compiled by Courier staffThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Man to face federal trialA man arrested by Department of Homeland Security agents in Atkins in August 2016 who faces multiple charges relating to child pornography will be tried in U.S. District Court in February 2018. A representative of the U.S. Eastern District Attorney's office said recently that Richard Bartmann, 80, has been detained in federal custody since his apprehension from his residence on West Main Street in Atkins on Aug. 10, 2016. The trial is set for ...

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BY SEAN INGRAM
sean@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Clarifying Barefield case misconceptionsIn a complicated trial such as the capital murder trial of Tyler Barefield, it's no surprise there are a lot of questions left after the matter. Barefield was convicted Nov. 1 of murdering Aaron Brock and Beau Dewitt at U-Pull-It Auto-Salvage in Russellville on Sept. 16, 2016, and crushing their bodies inside a gray Chevy Impala the following morning. The following tries to answer the most common questions and sentiments from our readers so fa...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSONsimpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Police chief gives annual reportRussellville Police Chief Jeff Humphrey gave his sixth annual report to the City Council during its October regular meeting. He explained there were people in our society who have no respect for the law or their fellow man and take advantage of others, no matter if they are rich, poor, naive or ignorant. They use and sell illegal drugs, destroy lives and property, kill and assault and manipulate men and women and children. "I want to further i...

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BY SEAN INGRAM
sean@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Dover man was allegedly stealing treesCONWAY -- A Dover man posted bond and was released Thursday morning after he was arrested by Conway Police for allegedly stealing trees from a dentist's office last month. Michael Peter Bonacich, 55, was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon and spent the night in the Faulkner County Jail after he was charged with felony theft of property, a Class D Felony, and had bond set at $2,500, according to the Faulkner County Sheriff's Office website....

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BY SEAN INGRAM
sean@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Barefield sentenced to life, will appealTyler Barefield was sentenced to multiple life sentences on Thursday inside the Pope County Courthouse after being found guilty of two counts of capital murder Wednesday night. A jury of 10 men and two women convicted Barefield of arriving at U-Pull-It Auto-Salvage in Russellville, a business he co-owns, on Sept 16, 2016, and killing Aaron Brock and Beau Dewitt, who authorities said he knew were planning to steal car parts that night. Barefiel...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
simpson@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Barefield found guilty of two counts of capital murderThe jury of 10 men and two women found Tyler Barefield guilty of two counts of capital murder Wednesday night in Pope County Circuit Court. Jurors deliberated for nearly five hours Wednesday and will return to the Pope County Courthouse in Russellville at 9 a.m. today to begin the sentencing phase of the trial. Barefield, who was taken into custody by bailiffs, was accused of killing Aaron Brock and Beau Dewitt, both 22, who were found shot an...

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Sean Ingram and Travis SimpsonThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Barefield trial update: State gives closing argumentsNOTE: At the time of this report, the defense has not concluded its closing arguments. We will publish a full story including both arguments later this evening. Prosecuting Attorney David Gibbons gave the state's closing arguments against Tyler Barefield on Wednesday inside the Pope County Courthouse. Barefield is charged with two counts of capital murder with the possibility of first degree murder and second degree murder in the deaths of Aar...

Defense rests; Barefield does not testify in murder trialThe defendant in a capital murder trial of two men in Russellville last year declined to testify Tuesday, then the defense rested its case in Pope County Circuit Court. “You understand you have a right to testify and right not to testify,” Judge William “Bill” Pearson said. “Is it your decision not to testify in this case?” “Yes sir.” Tyler J. Barefield said. He said it again when Pearson asked if he did so voluntarily. Before resting their ca...

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Travis Simpson and Sean IngramThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

State rests case on sixth day of Barefield murder trialDefense attorney Patrick Benca showed video evidence of lights and movement at a perimeter fence at U-Pull-It Auto Salvage on Sept. 16-17, 2016, the night police say Tyler J. Barefield, 36, gunned down Aaron Brock, 22, and Beau Dewitt, 22 — but after security footage showed Barefield left the scene. Benca called Russellville Police Det. Steve Barker to the stand to review video after the state rested its case on Monday inside the Pope County C...

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Travis Simpson and Sean IngramThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Murder trial goes into second weekThe jury of 10 men and two women will resume hearing deliberations at 10 a.m. Monday in the Pope County Circuit Court trial of a Russellville charged with two counts of capital murder at a Russellville salvage yard. Tyler J. Barefield, 36, is accused of shooting Aaron Brock and Beau Dewitt, both 22, and crushing their bodies at U-Pull-It Auto Salvage, which he co-owns. Testimony focused Friday on surveillance video from the night of Friday and...

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BY SEAN INGRAM AND TRAVIS SIMPSON
sean@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Testimony, video focus on night of alleged killingsLaree Rowan wept Friday morning when she recalled her last text conversation with Aaron Brock, who police say was shot on Sept. 16, 2016, at U-Pull-It Auto-Salvage. "I texted him, 'I can't wait to say I do,'" she said. "He replied, 'One day, babe." That was at approximately 12:22 a.m., and it was the last time she spoke with her boyfriend. Tyler J. Barefield, 36, is on trial for two counts of capital murder. Authorities say he shot and killed ...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON AND SEAN INGRAM
tsimpson@couriernews.coThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley